I have 2 Linksys WRT 54G wireless routers, and here is what I would like to do.

R1 - WRT54G v3.1 w/ DD-WRT firmware : main router. Incoming comcast cable is connected here. Other connections include PS3 (wired), and ethernet cable running upstairs. It broadcasts an SSD for laptop conections.

R2 - WRT54G v5 running Linksys latest firmware. Disabled DHCP, changed machine IP address (default was the same as R1), plugged in ethernet cable from downstairs to a numbered LAN port (not WAN). Wired office PC, Network Printer, and wireless laptop are cnected to R2

My understanding is that this will allow R2 to run as an extension from R1, but I cannot get it to work. My pc connected to R2 cannot see R1, other PC's on R1, or the internet.

Also, after I change it's IP address (i.e. from the default 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2), I can no longer get into the admin GUI. Why would this be?

This seems to be a simple config, but it is driving me nuts! If I have to reset to factory and start from the beginning ONE MORE TIME I'M GONNA...don't know what. But it won't be pretty. lol

Seriously, any help would be greatly appreciated.

You need to use the correct cable between routers. Not a patch [straight thru] but a crossover cable.

Imagine the power of knowing how to internet search
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

I found the problem: the short patch cable running between the wall ethernet jack and the router itself had gone bad (it was previously "good").

Thanks for you input.